Actxecutive Being Pointed Toward Derby Under Asmussen

Edited from Fair Grounds reportsJames "Mattress Mac" McIngvale's Actxecutive is in training at Fair Grounds with trainer Steve Asmussen for a 3-year-old campaign that the owner hopes will include a start in the May 7 Kentucky Derby (gr. I).

A son of Noactor, Actxecutive was privately purchased by McIngvale and turned over to trainer Bob Baffert last June after impressively breaking his maiden at Calder by 10 1/2-lengths. He jumped straight into stakes company, which resulted in a pair of runner-up finishes in the grade III Hollywood Juvenile and grade II Best Pal, where he was defeated by then stablemate Roman Ruler.

McIngvale, whose Wimbledon won the 2004 grade II Louisiana Derby, parted ways with Baffert last fall. Actxecutive was initially turned over to trainer Nick Hines in California. After incurring a few minor setbacks, the Florida-bred was sent to Asmussen and has resurfaced on the worktab at Fair Grounds the past couple of weeks.

"I breezed him an easy five-eighths (of a mile)," said Asmussen about Actxecutive's move in 1:03.40 on Saturday in his second local work. "Right now I'm just getting familiar with him, but he's got a lot of talent."

McIngvale confesses that he would like to go for a repeat in the Louisiana Derby March 12, but he understands that with just four weeks until that affair that it is highly unlikely.

"It's up to Steve to see where he's at," said McIngvale. "But, we'd have to get lucky to make (the Louisiana Derby). Obviously, the goal is the Kentucky Derby."

McIngvale said Wimbledon was attempting a comeback, and is training on a farm in Texas. The gray son of Wild Rush was discovered to have a tendon injury in the days leading up to the Kentucky Derby, forcing him to scratch. Wimbledon underwent stem cell surgery on the tendon, and a decision on his future could be made by the end of March, according to McIngvale.

"We're hoping for a miracle," he said. "But, if doesn't work out we'll send him to stud."